Blow-out preventer or control head



M. XNGE BLOW-GUT PREVENTEH OR CONTROL HEAD Filed OC.. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet jan- 5, l932- M. c. INGE 1,839,394*

BLOW-OUT PREVENTER OR CONTROL HEAD Filed Oct. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www Patented da. 5, 1932 MELVIN C. INGE, OF ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA BLOW-OUT PEEVENTER 0R CONTROL HEAD 'Application filed october as, 1929. serial No. 402,823.

This invention relates to a device for use in well drilling operations and relates more particulanly'to a blow out preventer or control head -or'controlling an oil or gas well.

In certain localities the gas pressures encountered in the drilling of wells are extremely high and often make itdillicult and many times impossible to control the wells. As the pressures in such cases increase very rapidly, slow actingcontrol devices are inadequate and ineective in controlling the Wells. f

It is a general object of .this invention to provide a control device or blow out pre- 0 Venter for a Well, that is practical, dependable, and of improved construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well control device that is compact.

and simple of construction, which may`-b safely operatedv upon short notice. f

It is another object of the invention to provide a fluid pressure actuated Well control device that may be set or lockedin the actuated or packin position.

A further o ject of the invention is to provide a device ofthe character mentioned that embodies packing arranged so that when it is set in position on an object, pressure from within the well tends to urge the packing into ti hter engagement with the object.-

It is a urthe-r object of the invention to provide a well control head of the character mentioned that occupies a minimum amount of space and may be operated from'a point remote from the well.

An important object of the invention is to provide a control head for a well that includes a plurality of sections of packing that are operated by fluid pressure to simultaneously and with equal ressure engage or pack against a tool ,extending through the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. blow out preventer that includes hydraulc or fluid pressure means for o erating the packing and mechanical means or operating the packing that may be employed in the event the hydraulic means is for any cause inoperative.

ther objects and features of my invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. .1 is a vertical detailed sectionall view of the control head provided by this invention showing a well tool or drillstring eX- tending freely through it. Fig. 2 is a view 'similar to Fig. 1 showing the packing means in packing engagement with the tool. Fig. 3 is a horizontal detailed sectional View taken as indicated by line3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an' enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal detailed sectional view taken'as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 6 6 on Fig. 1.

The control head or blow out preventer provided by this invention includes, generally., a body 1() to be applied to a well casing, packing means 11 carried b the body, luid pressure actuated means 12 or operating the packing, and mechanical means A for operating the packing and for locking the packing in t-he set position. v

The present device is intended to be mounted on the upper' end of avvell casing and is formed so as to allow various drilling tools to be passed in and out of the casing when the packing is retracted. In the drawings I have illustrated a portion ofa coupling 13 threaded on to the lower end of the body 10 which may be considered as attached to the upper end of the Well casing. I have shown a port-ion of a drilling strin 14 extending through the body 10. The drllling string 14 is sliown merely for purpose of illustration; it being understood that the device is operable to pack off around various' other tools that may operate through the casing.

The body 10 is a substantially tubular member and may be attached to the upper end of a Well casing by means of the coupling 13. The opening 15 of the body 10 is preferably proportioned to allow the insertion of the various tools into the well casing and is preferably concentric to the casing. In the or wall 18 of the enlargement is of less width than the lower end 17 and an upwardly convergent face 19 is provided in the opening' 15 at the upper edge of the enlargement. The face 19 is provided to slidably carry the packin means 11 and is substantially as long as en argement 16.

The upper end portion of the body 10 may be externally threaded to receive a conduit,

or thelike. An annular chamber or cylin-' der 20 is provided in the upper end of the body 1 0. .The cylinder extends longitudinally of the body and the side walls of the cylinder are curved concentric to the central longitudinal axis of the opening 15. The cylinder walls are iinished to s lidably carry a moving part. The cylinder 20 is closed at its upper end by an annular head 2l screw threaded into an enlargement 22 at the upper end of the cylinder. A suitable gasket 23 may be provided between the head 21 and the bottom of the enlargement to assure a Huid tight seal.

The packing means 11 is slidably carried on the convergent face 19 in the opening 15, and is adapted to form an annular assembly around the drill stem 14 to vprevent the passage of fluid upwardly through the body .10. The packing means 11 includes a plurality of like sections 24 which, when assembled in packing engagement with the pipe 14, constitute a continuous annular body. In the particular form of .the invention illustrated in the drawings there are four sections 24. The sections 24 are movable on the face 19 between the unactuated position adjacent the upper edge of the opening enlargement 16 and the actuated position adjacent the upper edge of the face 19. When the sections 24 are in the down or retracted position they are free 31 of the openin 15 and do not interfere with the passage o tools throu h the bod The sections 24 of pac ing may e laminated and may each consist of upper and lower metal plates 25 and 26, respectively, and a packing plate 27 arrangedbetween the lates 25 and 26. The packing plates 27 may Ee formed of rubber, or the like, and may be retained between the plates 25 and 26 by bolts 28'` extending completely through the sections. The packing plates 27 may be clamped between the metal plates so as to bul e or project from the sections 24 to effective y seat together and abut the drill pipe 14 and the face 19 to make an effective fluid tight seal. The sides of the sections 24 are preferably radial to effectively seat together when in the actuated position. It is to be understood, of course, that the inner sides of the packing sections 24.may be formed or shaped to pack against any particular to l or part that may be run through the body 1 The means 12 for actuating the packing sections 24 operates to move the sections simultaneouslyA and with equal force or pressure. The means 12 is in the fornof cylinder and piston means and includes, a piston 30 slidable in the cylinder 20, piston rods 31 connected to--tlie piston and extending into the enlargement 16, and links 32 connecting the sections 24 of packing and the piston rods 31. The piston 30 is annular in form and is provided to reciprocate in the cylinder 20. The piston 30 may have flat upper and lowei; sides and is proportioned to operate freely in the cylinder. Piston rings 30 may be provided on the piston to cooperate with the walls of the cylinder. The invention .provides means for admitting fluid under pressure, say steam, into either end of the cylinder to operate the piston 30 upward or downward. An opening or port 33 is provided on the lowerend of the cylinder 20 which communicates with a conduit 34 and a port 35 is provided at the upper end of the cylinder in communication with a conduit 36. The passage of fluid through the conduits 34 and 36 may be controlled by a suitable fourway valve 37. It will be obvious that the conduits may extend to a remote point and that the valve 37 may be located at any suitable convenient point.

The piston rods 3l are connected to the piston 30 and extend through the lower end wall of the cylinder. There is preferably one rod 31 for each section 24 of packing and they may be symmetrically arranged around the central axis of the opening 16. The rods 31 may be screw threaded into openings in the piston and preferably extend parallel to the axis of the body 10. Suitable packing glands 37 are provided in the upper end of the enlargement 16 to pack around the rods The links 32 operatively connect the piston rods 31 and the sections 24 of the packing The links 32 are pivotally attached' to the lower ends of the rods and are pivotally connected with the lower plates 26 ofthe packing sections. A shaft or pivot pin 38 extends transversely -through the lower end of each rod 31 and extends through yoked portions on the lower end of each link 32. A downwardly projectinglug 40 is provided on the lower side of the lower plate 26 of each packing section. Yoked portions on the upper ends of the links 32 are arranged at opposite sides of the lugs 40 and pivot pins 41 connect the yoked portions and the lugs.

With this construction the packing sections 24 are operatively connected with the piston 30 and are shifted along the face `19 upon movement of the piston 30 in the cylinder 20.

In accordance with the invention, means is provided to retain the sections 24 in engagement with the face 19. In the preferred form of the invention this means includes leaf springs 42. attached to the bottom end 17 of the enlargement 16 and in pressure engagement with the inner sides ofthe links 32. The springs 42 project upwardly from the shoulder 17 and are provided with shoes 43 at their upper ends to slidably fit the inner sides ofthe links 32. The springs 42 urge the links. 32 outward and thus insure the positioning of the sections 24 on theface 19.

In the preferred form of the invention the outward thrusts exerted by the springs 42 and'by the engagement of sections 24 with a drill pipe 14, o'r the like, .are-transmitted from the sections, and links 32 to the body 1() by shoe projections 44 on the piston rods 31. 'Ihere is preferably one shoe projection 44 provided adjacent the lower end of each rod 31 to slidably operate against the side walls of the enlargement 16 of the body opening. The project-ions 44 are preferably directly in alignment with the pivot pins 38 so as to effectively transmit the outward preslsue exerted on the pins to the walls ofthe )o v.

Means may be provided for setting the piston 30 in the up or actuated position. A screw 8O may be threaded through an opening in the body 10 so as to be operable to extend into the cylinder 20 and clamp against the piston 20. A suitable packing gland 81 may be provided to pack around the screw 80 As control heads of the class provided by this invention are generally used lin emergencies and under adverse conditions, it is advantageous to provide auxiliary or secondary means for operating the packing means in the event the hydraulic or primary means for operating the packing fails or becomes inoperative. In the the preferred form of the4 `invention the auxiliary or secondary means is in the form of mechanical means and may be operated to shift the packing sections 24 into packing position when desired or -necessary because of the lack of uid under pres` sure to operate the fluid pressurey means 12 or because of the inoperativeness of the means The mechanical means A for operating the sections 24 of packing includes, generally,a sleeve or nut 50 screw threaded on the exterior of the lower portion of the body and adapted to be rotated to move longitudinally of the bodv, and connections -51 between the is preferably comparatively wide or extends a substantial distance longitudinally of the body and is threaded on to the body 10 by coarse, heavy threads. The threads are such as to cause the nut to be moved a maximum distance longitudinally with a minimum of rotation. The exterior of the nut 50 is preferably curved concentric to the central axis of thebody 10 and outwardly projecting flanges 52 are provided at the upper and lower edges of the nut. A cable or line 53 has one end attached to the exterior of the nut 50 and has-a portion wound on to the nut. 'Ihe line 53 may be operated by any suitable means. It will be seen that unwinding of the line 53 will cause rotation of the nut.

The connections between the nut 50 and the piston rods 31 include a tubular stem,54 normally in engagement with the lower end of each piston rod 31 and extending through openings in the lower wall of the enlargement 16 of the opening 15. Packing glands 55 are provided in the openings to pack around the stems 54. The lower ends of the stems may be provided with yoked portions 56 between which lare arranged rollers 57. The rollers 57 are rotatably carried on pins extending between the yoked portions 56. The rollers are provided to operate on the upper end of the nut 50 and an annular groove 57a may be provided in the upper end of the nut 50 to guide the rollers 57. A guiding part 58 projects downwardly from the lower end of each piston rod 31 and extends into a tubular stem 54. The guiding parts 58 are comparatively long so that they always remain in register with the openings of the stems 54. It will be seen from the above that the mechanical means A may be operated to lock the packing sections in position after they have been shifted into, the actuating po:

sition by the fluid pressure means 12.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. Duringl normal drilling operations theparts are positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1'. In this position the packing sections 24 are retracted so that they do not in any way interfere with the operation of tools through the body 10 and casing. When it` is desired to operate the packing means with the fluid pressure actuating means 12 the valve 37 is operated to admit steam, or other fluid under pressure, into the lower end of the cylinder 20 through the port 33. The piston 30 is thus moved upward and the packing sections 24 are shifted to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 where they pack around the tool or drill -pipe 14. If it is desired to lock the packing in this'position the nut 50 may be rotated by operating the line 53 to bring the upper ends of the stems 54 into engagement with the lower ends of the piston rods 31.' With the parts vin this posinut 50 and the piston rods 31. The nut 50 Ation, the steam may be exhausted from the cylinder 20. It will be obvious that the mechanical means A may be employed to operate the packing sections 24 if desired or necessary. When it is desired to release the packing means ll the nut 50 is rotated to return it to the normal unactuated position and steam is admitted into the cylinder 2O through the upper Aport 35 to shift the piston downwardly to return the sections 24 to their normal positions. 'llhe device may be constructed without the means A, as the remaining portions of the device constitute a complete and operative blow-out preventer.

Having described only a typical, preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the specific details set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled n the art or fall withinthe scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, l claim:

l. 'A control device for use on a well including, a bodyf to be connected to a well casing, the body having a passage extending through it, a plurality of sections of packing in the body adapted to extend into the passage, and fluid pressure means for actuating the sections including a single annular piston within an annular cylinder in 'the body surrounding lthe passage, and connections between the piston and the sections.

2. A control device for use on a wellincluding, a body to be connected to a well casing, the body having a passage extending through it, there being a convergent recess in the wall of the opening, a plurality of sections of packing slidably carried in the recess and adapted to extend into the passage, and fluid pressure means to actuate the sections, including a single annular piston 0perable in an annular cylinder opening in the body surrounding the passage, piston rods attached to the piston, and links connecting the rods and sections.

3. A control device for awell including, a body to be connected to a well casing, the body having a passage extending vertically through it and having an annular cylinder opening surrounding the passage, packing means carried in the body adapted to extend linto the passage including a plurality of sec` tions, and fluid pressure means for actuating the sections including a single piston in the cylinder opening and link connections between the sections and the piston.

4. A control device for a well including, a body to be connected to a well casing, the body having a passage extending vertically through it and y`having an annular cylinder opening surrounding lthe passage, packing means carried in the body adapted to extend into the passage including a plurality of sections slidable in a convergent recess in the walls of the passage, and fluid pressure means for actuating the sections including a piston in the cylinder opening, connections between sections and the piston, and means for supplying fluid pressure to the cylinder at opposite ends of the piston.

5. A control device for a Well including, a. body to be connected to a Well casing, the body having a passage extending through it, there being a convergent recess in the opening, packing means including a plurality of sections of packing slidably carried in the recess, means for retaining the sections in engagement with the walls of the recess, and fluid pressure means for actuating the Sections including a .single piston operable in an annular cylinder opening in the body around the passage, and connections between the sections and piston.

6. A control device for a well including, a body to be connected to a well casing, the body having a passage extending through it, there being a convergent recess in the opening, packing means including a plurality of sections of packing slidably carried in the recess, spring means -for retaining the sections in engagement with the walls of the recess, and iuid pressure means` for actuating the sections including a single piston operable in an annular cylinder opening in the body, and connections between the sections and the piston.

7. A control device for a well including, a body adapted to be connected to a well casing, the body having a passage through it and a cylinder opening, packing means in the body including a plurality of sections of packing operable to extend into the passage, Huid pressure means to operate thesections including a piston in the cylinder opening, rods attached to the piston, and links connecting the rods and section, and auxiliary means for operating the sections to the extending position and to lock the sections in the extended,Y

position including a nut threaded on the body and stems extending between the nut and piston rods.

8. A control device for a well including, a 4

body adapted to be connected to a well casing, the body having a passage through it and a cylinder opening, packing means in the body including a plurality of sections of packing operable to extend into the passage, fluid pressure means to operate the sections including a piston in the cylinder opening, rods attached to the piston, and links connecting the rods and section, and auxiliary means for operating the sections to the extended position and to `lock the sections in the extended position including a nut threaded on the body, stems extending between the nut and the piston rods, and means for -rotating the nut.

9. A control device for a well including, a body adapted to be connected to a well casing, the body having a passage through it and a cylinder opening, packing means in the body including a plurality of sections of packing operable to extend into the passage, .ud pressure lmeans to operate the sections including a piston in the cylinder opening, rods attached to thepiston, and links connecting the rods and sections, and auxiliary means for operating the sections to the extended position and to lock the sections in the extended position including a nut threaded on the body, stems extending between the nut and the piston rods, and means for rotating the nut, said means including a line around the nut.

10. A control device for a well including, a body adapted to be mounted on a well casing, the body having a passage to register with the casing and having a convergent recess in the passage, packing sections operable to slidably cooperate with the recess to extend into the passage and seal about an object therein, and means for actuating the packing section including a nut threaded on the body, stems operable by the nut, and links operatively connecting the stems andl packing sections.,

In'. Witness that I claim the foregoing have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of October, 1929.

LVIN C.. GE. 

